The legendary Sir James Audley KG and his four squires.

The first problem is to identify the James Audley who became legendary at Poitiers. The problem is, you see, there were (at least) two James Audleys present that day.

The first is James Audley, 2nd Lord Audley of Heighley Castle, Staffordshire (1313-1386.) As you might expect, he was the son of the 1st Lord Audley and father of the 3rd. For many years he was thought to be the hero until it was realised that the Garter stall of Sir James Audley KG was reallocated some years before Lord Audley’s death!

A far more likely candidate to be the Sir James Audley is another man born in 1318, the son of James Audley of Stratton Audley, Oxon. To make the matter more confusing, his mother Eva (born Clavering) married two Audleys. The first was Thomas Audley (1289-before Nov. 1307). Her third husband was the aforementioned James Audley of Stratton Audley. The only thing is, her first and third husbands were so closely related that her marriage to James (if it took place, which is not 100% certain) may not have been valid. In short, the younger James Audley may have been, at least strictly speaking and perhaps even certainly, illegitimate.

Confused? You will be!

As far as I can work it out, James of Stratton Audley was Thomas’s nephew. Ergo, he effectively ‘married’ his aunt (by marriage) which was not allowed.

Be that as it may, their son, Sir James, undoubtedly fought bravely at Poitiers in the forefront of the battle and was badly wounded. Legend tells us that his four faithful squires tended to his wounds under the cover of a hedge. Carried by litter to the Prince of Wales, he was rewarded with lands worth 500 marks a year. His reaction was to divide the reward between the four squires. Whereupon, it is said, the Prince gave him another 500 marks of livelihood for himself.

Well, at the least, it’s a nice story, and positively reeks of chivalry.

Traditionally, the squires are said to have been Dutton of
Dutton, Delves of Doddington, Hawkstone of Wrinehill and Fowlehurst of Crewe.

The Rev. Charles Swynnerton has suggested that Dutton was of Maer and Delves of Whitmore. That is to say, they were of cadet branches of their families.

For a fuller and more detailed discussion of the whole affair see this excellent, complex and detailed article by Josiah Wedgewood MP.